Terps Host Boston U. for 200th Game in Comcast

Maryland Athletics

12-20-2013

Maryland continues non-conference play Saturday as it hosts Boston University at 1 p.m. in Comcast Center for the 200th men’s basketball game in the arena’s history. The Terrapin men hold an all-time record of 162-37 (.814) in Comcast Center since its inaugural season in 2002-03.

• The Terps won their second consecutive game last Saturday with a 66-62 defeat of Florida Atlantic, led by 22 points from sophomore Jake Layman. Maryland jumped out to a 13-point lead early in the contest, and never relinquished its lead in the victory.

• Freshman Roddy Peters was named ACC Rookie of the Week on Dec. 16 for his efforts against Boston College and Florida Atlantic last week. Peters totaled a career-high 14 points at Boston College, before posting five assists against FAU. Seth Allen and Charles Mitchell both earned the honor last season.

• Head coach Mark Turgeon (299-191) needs just one win to collect his 300th career victory. Currently in the midst of his 16th season, Turgeon would become the eighth active ACC coach to reach the milestone.

• The Terrapins won their first conference game of the season with an 88-80 victory over Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The Terps shot 55.2 percent from the field -- their second-best percentage of the season (62.3 - Morgan State), as Dez Wells scored a career-high 33 points. Wells (978) needs just 22 more points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Maryland returned to Comcast Center for the first time since Nov. 29 as it defeated Florida Atlantic, 66-62, last Saturday.

The Terps led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but Florida Atlantic battled back to make it a two-point game at the halftime break, 33-31.

Sophomore Jake Layman stepped up in the second half, knocking down all four shots (3 from 3-point range) in the frame. Layman finished with 22 points in the game, including a huge 3-pointer with 37 seconds remaining to put the Terps ahead by six points and seal the game.

While the Terps shot just 39.7 percent from the field, they manged 18 assists in the game -- the second-most this season (Morgan State - 26). Roddy Peters, Nick Faust and Evan Smotrycz combined for 14 assists in the game.

Scouting Boston University

Boston University enters the Comcast Center on a three-game losing skid, including a pair of overtime losses to Harvard and Norfolk State. The trio of losses follow a four-game Terrier winning streak that saw Boston jump out to a 6-2 record to start the season.

The Terriers are led offensively by do-it-all sophomore point guard Maurice Watson, Jr., who leads the Patriot League in assists (6.5/g), total steals (23) and total field goals made (69). He also leads the Terriers in points (14.6/g) and field goal percentage (.575), while grabbing 4.3 rebounds/g.

Watson was spectacular in the Terriers’ overtime loss to Norfolk State last Sunday, nearly notching a triple-double with 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. Teammate John Papale had 18 points in the effort, while Travis Robinson chipped in 14.

Coaching Milestone Looms

Head coach Mark Turgeon is on the verge of earning his 300th career victory Saturday, currently standing at a record of 299-191. Turgeon would become just the third head coach in Maryland history to have achieved at least 300 career wins (Gary Williams - 668, Lefty Driesell - 786).

Turgeon garnered 25 wins in his first two seasons of coaching at Jacksonville State, before totaling 128 wins in seven seasons at Wichita State. He then earned 97 wins at Texas A&M, prior to winning 49 so far at Maryland.

Terps Earn Road ACC Victory

Maryland opened its ACC slate with an important road victory at Boston College, 88-80.

The Terps got off to a sizzling start against the Eagles, jumping out to a 15-6 lead in the first 5:11. Nine of the 15 points came on 3-pointers, as Evan Smotrycz hit a pair and Nick Faust knocked one down from the wing.

After Olivier Hanlan put Boston College ahead, 64-60, with 7:19 to play, Dez Wells fought his way to the free throw line to begin a torrid scoring run for the Terps. Wells scored 16 points in the final 6:46 to push Maryland to the victory.

Boston Connections

Maryland assistant coach Scott Spinelli graduated from Boston University in 1989, leading the Terriers to the 1988 NCAA Tournament as a point guard. Evan Smotrycz (Reading, Mass.) and Jake Layman (Wrentham, Mass.) both hail from outside of Boston.

Closing in on 1,000 Points

Junior Dez Wells needs just 22 more points to reach 1,000 for his career, currently sitting at 978. Wells scored 312 points during his freshman season at Xavier, before totaling 498 last season. The Raleigh, N.C. native is averaging a career-best 15.3 points this season, including a career-high 33-point performance at Boston College. Wells has scored 22 points on just two occasions this year, but is averaging 19.5 points over his last four games.

Peters Emerging as Terps’ Point Guard

Freshman Roddy Peters has grown more comfortable with each game at the point guard position for the Terps, culminating with ACC Rookie of the Week honors last week in starts against Boston College and Florida Atlantic. • Despite averaging just 20.2 minutes/g, Peters leads the Terrapins by a wide margin with 38 assists (3.5/g). • Peters has posted at least three assists in six consecutive games, including a five-assist performance against Florida Atlantic. • He shined in his first career ACC game (on the road), pouring in a career-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.